Overcoming Thyroid Disorders

Dr. David Brownstein, is the Medical Director of the Center for Holistic Medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan. This is one of eight books that Dr. Brownstein has authored. In this book he lays out what he has, along with other medical professionals, discovered regarding thyroid diseases. While I am not a medical practitioner and the solutions I offer for learning challenges are within the context of education, I do recognize that we need to look at the whole person. One condition that we have seen in many of our clients is hypothyroidism. In this review, I will summarize the ideas of Dr. Brownstein for your consideration.

Key Points:

I. Brownstein often reminds his readers that he is offering information, but he does not intend for it to replace working with a trained medical professional.
II. Dr. Brownstein contrasts his “holistic treatment plan” which aims to resolve underlying causes with “conventional approach” which generally treats the symptoms.
III. Brownstein quotes often the man who got him started in helping his patients with hypothyroidism. Broda O. Barnes, M.D. is considered highly among professionals like Brownstein. Barnes authored, Hypothyroidism, the Unsuspected Illness (1976).
IV. “Symptoms and Diagnoses of Thyroid and Other Endocrine Imbalances: Acne, allergies, arthritis, birth defects, brittle nails, cancer, candida, chronic fatigue, constipation, coronary artery disease, cystic breasts, cystic ovaries, decreased sex drive, diabetes, dry skin, eczema, endometriosis, fatigue, fluid retention, gout, hair loss, headaches, heart palpitations, high cholesterol, hyperinsulinemia, hypertension, infertility, intolerance to cold, intolerance to heat, low blood pressure, low immune system, memory impairment, mental disorders, muscle loss, multiple sclerosis, nervousness, nutritional imbalances, overweight, P.M.S., premature aging, psoriasis, repeated infections, ridged nails, underweight.” P. 22
V. Hypothyroidism – an under active thyroid gland – butterfly shaped gland in lower neck. “Every single muscle, organ and cell in the body depends on adequate thyroid hormone levels for achieving and maintaining optimal functioning. Thyroid hormone acts as the body’s metabolic regulator. In a hypothyroid state, the thyroid gland is releasing inadequate amounts of thryoid hormone to meet the body’s metabolic demands, and the metabolic rate is therefore reduced.” P. 33
A. “Signs and Symptoms of Hypothyroidism: brittle nails, cold hands and feet, cold intolerance, constipation, depression, difficulty swallowing, dry skin, elevated cholesterol, essential hypertension, eyelid swelling, fatigue, hair loss, hoarseness, hypotension, inability to concentrate, infertility, irritability, menstrual irregularities, muscle cramps, muscle weakness, nervousness, poor memory, puffy eyes, slower heartbeat, throat pain, weight gain.” p. 34
B. Prevalence of hypothyroidism – in US possibly 10% or 13 million people have undiagnosed hypothyroidism. P. 35
C. Thyroid Function – “A pituitary hormone, known as Thyroid Stimulating Hormone or TSH stimulates the thyroid gland. When TSH is secreted from the pituitary gland, it causes the thyroid gland to release thyroid hormone. THS is very sensitive to T4 and to T3. When the body has adequate amounts of thyroid hormone available, TSH levels are lowered so that the thyroid gland can lower its production of hormones.” P. 37 The thyroid produces more T4 than T3 and when the thyroid is functioning properly, it converts the majority of T4 into T3.
D. Traditional medicine considers normal TSH range to be 0.4-4.5 mIU/L and anything less than 4.5 mIU/L to be hypothyroid. This has been the “gold standard” for over 30 years. P. 38 Studies show that this is not accurate and many people with hypothyroidism are going undiagnosed. Some have proposed a change of the “Normal Range” to 0.5-2.0.
E. Dr. Brownstein and other holistic doctors use the following to confirm or rule-out the diagnosis of hypothyroidism: thyroid blood tests, medical history, basal body temperatures and a physical exam. P. 42
F. A full thyroid panel tests not only the TSH, but also T3 and T4. Some people have plenty of T4, but are poor T4 converters. Factors that contribute to this problem: nutrient deficiencies (chromium, copper, iodine, iron, selenium, zinc, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12) medications (beta blockers, birth control pills, estrogen, iodinated contrast agents, lithium, phenytoin, steroids, theophylline) diet (cruciferous vegetables, soy) and Other (aging, alcohol, lipoic acid, diabetes, flouride, lead, mercury, obesity, pesticides, radiation, stress and surgery). P. 45 Another list: “Factors Associated with Decreased T4 to T3 Conversion: Alpha Lipoic Acid, Anti TPO antibodies, chronic illness, cigarette smoking, drugs, external radiation, fasting, growth hormone deficiency, heavy metal toxicity including mercury toxicity, hemochromatosis, high stress, iodinated chlorestorgraphic agents – used in x-ray procedures, low adrenal states, malnutrition, mineral and vitamin deficiencies – selenium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6 & Vitamin B-12, old age, physical trauma, postoperative state, soy” p. 76 Because the thyroid affects every cell in the body, the symptoms discovered in a medical history is broad ranged.
G. The Basal Temperature (known as Barnes Basal Temperature – Dr. Broda Barnes) “How to Measure the Basal Body Temperature: 1. Shake down a basal thermometer the night before and place at bedside or use a digital basal thermometer. 2. Upon awakening, place the thermometer snugly in your armpit for a period of 10 minutes and record your temperature for 5 days in a row. You must not get out of bed before checking your temperature or you will have an altered reading. 3. For women who are menstruating, the temperature should be taken starting on the second day of menstruation. …. For men and postmenopausal women, it makes no difference when the temperatures are taken. 4. If your thyroid function is normal, your temperature should be in the range of 97.8-98.2 degrees Fahrenheit. A temperature below this may indicate a hypothyroid state. 5. You can also check oral and rectal temperatures. Normal oral/rectal temperatures should be in the range of 98.8-99.2 Fahrenheit.” P. 50
H. During the physical exam common symptoms discovered include: outer third of eyebrow is very thin (Sign of Hertoghe) and “periorbital edema” or swelling under the eyes. P. 51
I. Conventional Treatment of Hypothryroidism: Synthetic Derivatives of T4 (thyroxine) – Synthroid, Levothroid, Unithroid, etc. Since this conventional treatment monitors TSH which is very sensitive to T4, this can actually lower the function of the thyroid because TSH levels will decline as T4 increases. P. 53
J. Holistic Treatment of Hypothyroidism – The goal is to find where in the normal thyroid function breaks down. What is the underlying cause? Is the individual a poor T4 to T3 converter? Which factors listed in F. above contribute? Dr. Brownstein recommends the use of “a desiccated glandular thyroid products (e.g. Armour Thyroid, Nature-Thyroid, Westhroid). These are not synthetic but are porcine (pig) derivatives – while not identical, the closest possible available, according to Brownstein. Further Armour Thyroid has diuretic effect on the swelling. P. 55, 56
K. “Thyroid hormone resistance is a condition in which the target tissue for thyroid hormone (i.e. the cells of the body) has a reduced responsiveness to thyroid hormone. In other words, thyroid hormone is not able to bind effectively to the cells of the body, resulting in signs of hypothyroidism. Thyroid hormone resistance can occur even with adequate production of thyroid hormone.” P. 90-91 Detoxifing the body, increasing thyroid hormone availability and correcting imbalances help the body to respond appropriately to TSH. “In cases of thyroid hormone resistance, higher than normal doses of thyroid hormone may be required to produce the desired effects on the body.” P. 91-92 Blood tests of those with thyroid hormone resistance may indicate that a person is hyperthyroid when the symptoms are consistent with hypothyroidism. P. 93

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Published by unlockinglearningpotential

Maggie and her husband, Ronnie operate Unlocking Learning Potential and work with Academy Northwest and Family Academy Online. (www.unlockinglearningpotential.net) We offer help for homeschoolers and those with learning challenges online. Maggie has taught for over 40 years and has worked with homeschoolers for over 20 years. She earned a M.A. in Special Education in 1989 Affliated with Academy Northwest (www.academynorthwest.net), Family Academy (www.familyacademy.org) and is a Certified Neurodevelopmentalist with the International Christian Association of Neurodevelopmentalists.
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